I have some steel drums that have sat for at least six years. But I do have to admit to having a couple with the bottoms rotted out. The trick seems to be to stand them on thin strips of wood so that the bottom doesn't touch the floor.

Good to see you guys are still here.There again, it is 6 month since the last post.

Originally posted by dva: The trick seems to be to stand them on thin strips of wood so that the bottom doesn't touch the floor.dva

Yes, that is the trick.I sit my drums on three or 4 short lengths of 2 by 4 (or as they say in Australia 4 be 2) laid on the ground in a square or triangle with only the rims of the drums touching the wood and the rest of the drum bottom is well clear of anything.Because I store my drums outside in the weather I then pour lots of WVO onto the top of the drum to prevent rusting.The tops of the drums do look untidy but so far, in 14 years of storing oil this way I have had no drum failures nor have I had oil go off in the drum.

Peraonally I am safe here in Edmonton, AB. Normally a four hour drive south of Fort McMurry where I work(ed).My friends that have successfully evacuated from Ft MCMurray, are in the lineups for "refugee" help, here in Edmonton.The CBC radio says 88,000 evacuees, from the effected areas.

Here in Edmonton, it is heart warming to hear how everyone is assisting. One example is the taxi companies are providing free taxi rides to the occupants of the shelters.

An over abundance of brotherhood and community spirit, is seen everywhere. Really encouraging.

Suncor and Syncrude and She'll have cut production, so some 800,000 BBL a day not flowing down the pipeline. One would think the NDP would be pushing the LEAD Manifesto loudly right now.

For shocking videos and up to the minute updates, CNBC news has a blog at:

hope things are well dva don't know what your brexit issues are in your area hope things don't get too stupid. it's like a trump virus affecting the political parties.

on my own note I've picked up another 8 100 watt panels last weekend to get my array up to 2kw+. enough to run a deep well pump through the winter and at 2 bucks a watt my best price so far (for the area). I still need to double the batt bank, pick up a 220 volt inverter and erect a new pole to hold them up, I never do rooftop installations with the snow here, just don't feel like climbing up to sweep it off , much easier to use a snow rake from the ground on the arrays.

hope things are better or at least getting better Raveman. hang in there and to the rest ; dualfuel, veggyvan and others I can't remember hope all projects are proceeding well. one other thing has anyone been in touch with John hearon? It seems like he dropped off the map

I think a lot of folk in the USA (and Canada) are getting the wrong picture with our Brexit.

There really is no comparison between it and the American Trump vote.

It seems that America simply wants to run with no government. That won't fly.

The new guy surrounds himself with billionaires ? Did all these make their money from American companies that produce only in America using American labour and materials ? I doubt it.The people's reasoning (those who voted for him) say, well he knows how to make money. Maybe so. But who is he making it out of ? His wealth comes from Hotels, property and casinos, Not from production.

Back to Brexit.

The basic difference is we (the UK) joined a group of seven other countries to make a closer alliance that would hopefully reduce the chances of another European war. If we all were closer linked then we would be tied to each other.But this grew to 27 (maybe 28) countries. and the later ones to join were all countries that had a much lower standard of living than we had. Naturally the people from these 'lame dog' countries wanted their (notw rightful) share of the wealth of the original eight. And millions were able to simply move in due to the freedom of travel and domicile rules the EU were pushing.

This created a race to the bottom in the once wealthy countries. now there are very many more people than there is work. and the wages are suppressed because these late arrivals are going to work for the current wages or less as it will still be more than they were getting at home.

And the EU makes up it's rules as it goes along. No one can go against them.

So we voted out.

It will be messy, but in the end we will be able to take back out own rules. Only allow in the people we need etc.

I'm all for people working abroad. did it myself. But with the appropriate work visa.

America would get a better picture if it imagined that Mexico and a few other less well off countries were simply to be allowed to come and go as they pleased after being added to the existing states. With full rights of residence and the right to work where ever they chose.

One could imagine some of the original states thinking 'we have had enough' we wish to disconnect from this mess'.